God’s Word and God’s Spirit always agree and are of the same mind. The Spirit of God who gave the Holy Scripture cannot say one thing here and another in your heart. That would be to bear witness against himself. And how can a divided kingdom stand?
– Ralph Venning –
from Learning in Christ’s School, 1675
We would faint, or falter, if we did not believe (Psa. 27:13), and faltering would prove our strength of faith to be very small (Prov. 24:10). But our faith would faint were it not upheld and quickened by the Word of God.
– Ralph Venning –
from Learning in Christ’s School, 1675
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
(Hebrews 11:6 ESV)
He is a rewarder of them that seek him; they shall not seek in vain, if they seek in truth.
– Ralph Venning –
from Learning in Christ’s School, 1675
Take notice not only of the mercies of God, but of God in the mercies. Mercies are never so savory as when they savor of a savior.
– Ralph Venning –
1621-1673 AD
The same Spirit that convinces of sin convinces of righteousness, and of judgment and victory, too. (John 16:8)
– Ralph Venning –
from Learning in Christ’s School,1675
There are some poor souls, and I believe there are some among the Corinthians, that are apt to become discouraged when they compare themselves with others. When a dwarf stands by a giant, a man of low stature by a tall one, as David by Goliath, he seems to be nobody; yet he is a man, a perfect man, in spite of the vast difference between them.
Many poor souls, when they see themselves outstripped in knowledge, faith, love and patience by some that came into Christ long after them, are apt to think that they are not saints because they are not saints such as those.
– Ralph Venning –
from Learning in Christ’s School, 1675